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66 // Masquerade
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“This is a special party for a very special person. We have a lot of things lined up for you, but before we continue, I would like for us to give the birthday girl’s brother a chance to speak. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Jorge Billings to the stage!” Anita said, and the guests clapped as Jorge made his way to the stage.
“Uhm…first of all, I would like to thank you for coming at such a short notice, I’m really grateful for that, thank you.” Jorge spoke up. “People often ask me what’s the most important thing in my life, and the answer is always the same – MJ Billings." He said with much-held adoration. "You are probably listening to me right now, and if you are, I want you to know that I love you, MJ, and my words don't even begin to describe my love for you." He said and his eyes wandered over the crowd, the only person he was looking for, missing. "Not only did our mother leave this world on this day
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“Oh my God! It is the Billings!” One of the girls from McEnroe Enterprises squealed as MJ and Jorge walked into the building in their mighty suits and billion dollar looks. MJ was wearing a white suit and short black heels. Her brown hair was tied up into a neat bun. Jorge, on the other hand, wore a black designer business suit, white shirt, and a grey tie with white stripes.A young woman approached them. "Good day, Mr and Miss Billings, Mr McEnroe awaits you in the boardroom. Please follow me." She said in a strict business tone.Jorge was quite shocked by her attitude. He swore she was one of the few women who looked at him as a normal human being. She led them to a private elevator and they landed on the fifth floor, and then she directed them to a room with big double doors. She opened the door and they both entered.There was a huge table at the centre of the room, with about fifteen chairs in which only seven were occupied by
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The Billionaires (#1) 72 // Kidnapped
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The Billionaires (#1) 73 // Panic Buttons
Logan Parker did not want to hear anything at all. He did not want to listen to anyone. All that he wanted was to find MJ before anything could happen to her. It had not been long since her kidnapping, so chances were that the kidnappers were still around. They could not have gone that far since the police were contacted immediately and we're currently searching for the car.Logan suspected that the same person that tried to run MJ over was the same person that kidnapped her. His main lead now was the tinted car that was spotted on the CCTV footage, but it was not enough. Jorge had told him that May was missing and that she was kidnapped from Sonya’s apartment. His story was not convincing, but Logan decided to use what he had.Being a man of power and authority, Logan Parker managed to get SAPS to set roadblocks as soon as possible. All roads were blocked. From entrances and exit points of Cape Town and Western Cape to harbours and airports.
The Billionaires (#1) 74 // Nightmare
“I can’t do this anymore, Thuso. The wait is killing me.” Logan said and sat up from his office couch. He was still in the same clothes he had worn the previous day after work; black tracksuits. He had slept in his office at Parker’s Enterprises after another fight with Carmen. “It has been over 36 hours, that’s a day and a half. That’s almost two flipping days, and there’s still no sign of her.” He said with a broken voice. His eyes were puffy and he looked drained. “I don’t know what to do anymore, I feel like I’m losing my mind!” He growled and pulled on his hair.“We will find her, boss.” Thuso reassured him.“When?” Logan laughed bitterly and stood up. “Maybe this is my punishment. I should have told her the truth. Now she is still out there, probably being tortured and…” He trailed off and held his head.“Logan, y
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She could not remember the last time she felt such an adrenaline rush; it set her body on fire as excitement coursed through her veins.The apprehension she felt before, dissipated the moment she realised that she was basically alone on the top floor of Logan Parker's house. Who knew what secrets this house held?She still remembered Logan's house from her childhood years and back when they were dating. There were many rooms, but she knew where the important ones were; including his study, office, and his bedroom – the perfect places to bury his secrets and important information.From what she remembered, there were no cameras; hopefully that was still the case. She surveyed the house until she found his room, and as expected; it was locked. Logan never trusted anyone when it came to his personal spaces, especially since he was a heavy sleeper.MJ found his office, and strangely, it was not locked; it seemed as though he was
The Billionaires (#1) 79 // Sirens
“Yes, that’s right!” Carmen laughed. “I know who you are.” She smirked. “Darn! You had us all fooled, you smooth bitch!” She continued to laugh, placing both her hands on the table for support, feeling proud to have MJ Billings at her mercy. At least that was what she thought.She had no idea what MJ Billings had in store for her. “And I underestimated you.” MJ said, sitting up straight. You have it bad! MJ thought.Carmen was willing to do anything to keep Logan that she did not realize the mistake she had made, but even if she did, it would have been too late. Not only did MJ Billings have leverage on her now, she practically had her life in her hands. But like the snake she was, MJ kept quiet, preying on her like silent venom.“And I proved you wrong.” Carmen said proudly.MJ studied her. She was a fair girl, beautiful beyond doubt. She was wearing a short brown b
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“You don’t have to go, you know.” Jorge said worriedly to MJ.“I am going; Carmen invited me.” MJ said while applying a maroon lipstick on her lips. "The least I can do is honour her invitation." She pouted her lips, making sure that she applied her lipstick well.“But-” Jorge tried to argue, but she cut him off.She turned around to face him. “Jorge, we are the Billings, and we don’t-”“Disappoint.” He heaved a sigh and finished off for her.They were currently in MJ’s room, preparing for Logan and Carmen’s engagement party. MJ was wearing a long maroon cocktail dress that reached her toes, and white heels, and tied her curly hair to the side.Jorge, on the other hand, was wearing black skinny jeans, a black shirt, and a grey jacket.“Ready?” Anita peeked through the door, grabbing both their atten
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The next morning was different. The Billings' residence felt cold with silence and tension. No one knew what to say. Everyone had to be careful of what they said. They were all currently seated in the kitchen with the exception of MJ."Mm…Jameson, since you are working now and earn better, you can build me a house like this, just to have a kitchen like this one." Antonina said, trying to break the silence. Jorge's house was very huge; it was a double story beach house. They had a sitting room, a lounge, a dining room, a very spacious kitchen that could accommodate the entire royal family and still leave enough space for movement.“Sure, Ants.” Jameson replied quietly.“Jorge, did you get any sleep at all?” Reina asked.Everyone could see that Jorge had not slept at all. He spent the rest of his night, or rather a morning, going through his CCTV footage. Anita had found him sitting in his office, stari
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“Shannon!” Reina scolded in the background, but Shannon just laughed.“Haha, you are such a wimp!” Shannon’s laughter boomed through the phone and Jorge closed his eyes.“Oh! Jorge, please don’t mind her; she’s a bit high right now.” Reina said. “MJ is home, she just needs some rest.” She said tiredly, and Jorge sighed in relief.“Thank you, Reina. I’m on my way!” He hung up and was about to leave when Logan stopped him.“Hey, what’s going on?” Logan asked.“May is at home!” Jorge said impatiently.“I’m coming with you.” Logan said tiredly.“No!” Doctor Becker and Jorge answered in unison as if trying to hide something, taking Logan by surprise.Doctor Becker cleared her throat and continued, “Miss Smith needs some rest; a lot of res
The Billionaires (#1) 75 // Lost and Found
Jorge rushed into the hospital and increased his pace as he approached the reception desk, his heart hammering hard against his chest as he imagined all sorts of outcomes. “Hi!” He greeted breathlessly. “My name is Jorge Billings; I’m here to see Miss Smith!” He said anxiously.The receptionist nodded and typed on the computer, and then she fixed her glasses and looked up with a small smile. "Mr Billings, please follow me." She left the desk and led him through a long passage. The sight of nurses and patients and the smell of the hospital made Jorge feel uneasy. Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital was a place that held some bad memories for him and MJ.This was the place where his sister was born, the same place where he was told that his mother had died when he was seven, the same place where he first held his sister in his arms.As if sensing his tension, the woman spoke up. “Your mom was such a ni
The Billionaires (#1) 74 // Nightmare
“I can’t do this anymore, Thuso. The wait is killing me.” Logan said and sat up from his office couch. He was still in the same clothes he had worn the previous day after work; black tracksuits. He had slept in his office at Parker’s Enterprises after another fight with Carmen. “It has been over 36 hours, that’s a day and a half. That’s almost two flipping days, and there’s still no sign of her.” He said with a broken voice. His eyes were puffy and he looked drained. “I don’t know what to do anymore, I feel like I’m losing my mind!” He growled and pulled on his hair.“We will find her, boss.” Thuso reassured him.“When?” Logan laughed bitterly and stood up. “Maybe this is my punishment. I should have told her the truth. Now she is still out there, probably being tortured and…” He trailed off and held his head.“Logan, y
The Billionaires (#1) 73 // Panic Buttons
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The Billionaires (#1) 72 // Kidnapped
“Hey, Anita! It is Jorge again. I was just checking if you had heard anything from MJ. Please call me as soon as you get this message…” Jorge said into the phone. His hair was wet and he looked like he just got out of the shower. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, which was tight around his body, and the sleeves were neatly rolled up, giving his big and fancy watch a better view."Hey, Jorge!" Anita and the Dos Santos women budged into the house with a handful of shopping bags. He sighed in relief and walked towards them. "Wow! You should never go shopping with these two; they made us go from door to door." She sighed tiredly as she placed her bags down, and then she plopped down on the couch and took off her heels.“What the hell happened to your phone? I’ve been calling you all day long!” He shouted, frustrated.Anita sat up straight, and the two women who were busy mingling stopped what they were
